Skipping school to support immigrants sparks debate

Published 1:00 am, Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Just as the civil rights leader led boycotts of southern businesses in the 1960s, Hernandez and her family is heeding calls by Latino leaders to not attend school or work on Monday.
Hernandez will stay home from
Danbury High School
.
"By not going to work, it will bring out the fact that without immigrants the United States wouldn't be the way it is," said Hernandez, who was born in Guatemala.
Her classmate, junior Jessica Perdigoto, said she'll be at school Monday. "I always have a sense of pride that my parents came here and got me this education," said Perdigoto, whose parents are from Portugal.
She said her parents won't skip work because they're raising three children and can't afford to take the day off. "They are hard workers," she said. "I think they fit into the community but at heart they are immigrants."
Across the city - and the nation - there is a debate over what is appropriate action for immigrants who feel unwelcome in their communities. Latino leaders have called for rallies Sunday and boycotts Monday.
Latino leaders want Congress to pass a bill making it easier for immigrants to become citizens. Some lawmakers and others want to go the other way; they want a bill that would order the deportation of undocumented immigrants.
To show the economic and cultural impact that immigrants have on communities, Latino leaders have dubbed Monday "A Day Without Immigrants" and called for the boycotts.
Danbury school Superintendent
Eddie Davis
is adamant that students should attend school Monday and not get drawn into the immigration policy debate.
"I've always taken the position that these are adult matters and adults should be out in front," Davis said. "Children should do what we expect them to do - go to school. It doesn't diminish the issue. It demonstrates the importance of school for the children."
The student body at Danbury High has long prided itself on its multi-cultural make-up. Principal
Catherine Richard
said several students have proposed making Monday a day of silence "in support of justice for immigrants."
The students plan to bring posters to school to tell their peers about their views. They would respond to teachers but be quiet during other times.
"I'm very impressed with the kids' sincerity. They want to do something but not miss a day of school," Richard said.
Richard said students who stay out of school will have unexcused absences, which could be troublesome if it takes them over the limit of 10 absences allowed for the semester.
Maria-Cinta Lowe
, executive director of the
Hispanic Center of Greater Danbury
, has urged families who can to stay home from work with their children for a day of relaxing.
"I will not say 'Don't send children to school,' because without an education they have no future," Lowe said. "I want parents to stay with the kids, go to the park and celebrate with kids," she said, not just stay away from schools.
Mayor
Mark Boughton
said he's asked Lowe to reconsider her position.
"I told her the
Common Council
would re-evaluate any funding for any organization that advocates that children not go to school May 1. The public message must be that children be in school," Boughton said.
The
Danbury Area Coalition for the Rights of Immigrants
, which is sponsoring a march down Main Street on Sunday at 1 p.m., on Tuesday urged students to go to school.
Monday should be a time to look at immigrants' positive contributions to the community and students should attend school and help educate their peers, according to a statement by the group's coordinator,
Ingrid Espinosa
.
Emanuela Lima
, who immigrated from Brazil in 1995, is executive and art director of Tribuna, a Brazilian newspaper published in Danbury. She said she supports the worker and student boycott, but that the final decision rests with parents. She said wouldn't expect the schools to encourage or condone the protest.
"On May 1, the idea is not to participate in regular activities so people miss you and know that you're not there," Lima said.
She remembers what it was like at Danbury High School to watch some kids fill out college applications while others, who didn't have proper documentation, were forced to work at jobs that did not tap their potential.
"I think students should be involved. If they can't get green cards and never go to college, I think it's definitely an issue for them," she said.
The Rev.
Angelo Arrando
, president of the board of directors of the
Association of Religious Communities
, a group that offers services to immigrants, said he will carry the ARC banner in Sunday's march.
But he has mixed feelings on the boycott. "Taking a kid out of school? I don't know if that is good for them," he said. "And losing a day's wage and taking the food from the table? I wouldn't feel comfortable telling them to do it. "
But Arrando won't judge those who want to take part in the boycott. "You have to be in the same situation as them," Arrando said, "and understand what they feel they need to do to be heard."